Combined manual and follow-up pressure fluid power unit



J. F. MORSE Novo 7, E950 COMBINED MANUAL AND FOLLOW-UP PRESSURE FLUID POWER UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 6, 1944 T I N U R E W O P D m L F E Pn w E S 5m R P. @w Mw. O Fm .J O F D N A L A U N An M D E N I B M O C my., 79 E950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN F'. bVORE BY ggg Filed OGC. 6, 1944 N0 7, E95@ J. F. MQRSE 2528,9l

COMBNED MANUAL AND FOLLOW-UP PRESSURE FLUID POWER UNIT Filed OCc. 6, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 iNvENToR JOHN f". MORSE" Patented Nov. 7, 1,975.0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CMBINED MANUAL AND FOLLOW-UP PRESSURE FLUID POW'ER UNIT The present invention is directed to a combined manual and power operated unit for actuating all types of mechanical installations, but is primarily designed and intended for operating clutch shifting mechanisms or rudder actuating means used in power boats. The power which is employed in the unit is uid pressure, preferably oil, which is maintained under suiiicient pressure to operate the mechanism which is controlled by the actuating unit. The power operated unit is controlled usually by manual means, the arrangement being such that when the device is functioning vproperly a, very light pressure exerted in either direction will cause the fluid pressure to act upon the device in that direction. So long as the manual pressure is maintained the power unit will function to move the mechanism controlled thereby, but if the manual pressure is relaxed, the power operated unit Will cease to function.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby, should the pressure on the operating fluid be lost, as by a break in the pressure line or failure of the pump, the operator may operate the mechanism controlled thereby in spite of the fact that the duid pressure has been dissipated.

While other mechanisms of this general type have been known they have not been wholly satisfactory, and it is the object of the present invention to improve upon prior designs by making a more compact, and simpler form of device which will nevertheless operate satisfactorily under all operating conditions. The simplicity of the present design, its compactness, and the fact that it will operate by the exertion of a very light manual pressure are among the advantages of the invention. The device is made of few parts and isvtherefore relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain in working order.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a manually-controlled fluid operated unit which will ordinarily perform the work required so long as the operator maintains a light pressure upon the hand lever or control device in the direction in which the device is to operate. However, if the manual pressure is relaxed the power unit willimmediately cease to function, so that the mechanism will not drift in either direction. This makes the power unit particularly suited and adapted for 'actuating steering mechanisms and other devices where it'is desirable to vretain constant and accurate control upon the movement of the mechanism driven thereby.

A further'objec't of the invention is to provide for a limited degree of lost motion between the manual control element and the power operatedV mechanism so that whenever the pressure fluid should no longer continue to function from any cause, the movement of the manual control element will be immediately transmitted directly through the iuid operated unit. In conjunction With this function, the device is constructed to provide for an immediate opening of a bypass lwithin the device so that oil or other pressure fluid will be instantly supplied to the chamber at the end of the piston which is increasing in volume and therefore no resistance is oifered to the manual operation.

These and other and related objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of the best known and preferred form of the invention. In the drawings such a preferred embodiment is shown, but it is understood that changes and modifications may be made therein without altering the basic principles of the invention or sacrificing its major benefits.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a representative installation for a complete unit such as might be installed in a power boat for operating the clutch shifting mechanism or the rudder control;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the unit on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the various elements in their neutral or non-operating position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the central portion of the device shown in the position the elements will assume when the device is acting in the direction toward the left 'side of the View;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary view showing the valve in the position it will assume when the device is acting toward the right;

Fig. 4 is a section through the working or control sideof the unit, said view being taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 taken at the approximate center of the unit;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 taken immediately to the right of the piston;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2 taken immediately to the left of the piston;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a View of the piston looking at theV Fig. 11 is a View of the piston rotated 90 with'V 3 respect to the showing in Fig. 10, this view looking directly at the outlet channel;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. and

Fig; 13 is a section on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 9.

VThe entire device or unit, illustrated herein as the best known or preferred form of the invention, is enclosed in a casing composed of three main par-ts, the central or main cylinder I which houses the piston, valve and other working parts, a right hand casing or housing 2 which contains the manual control connections and the left hand housing or casing 3 which contains the connections to the mechanism to be actuated orY controlled. These three elements ofthe casing are bolted together to form a fluid tight casing by a series of bolts 4.

In general, the casings 2 and 3 are of the same design and the description of either will sufce, in the main, for both. For the purposes of illustration the control housingis shown indetail in Fig. 4.k Within the housing 2. is the chamber 2e which surrounds thek control gear 6 which is mounted upon the control shaft'i supported by the two ball bearings 8 and 9.. Theside ofthe housing through which the shaft. l. projects is closed, by the cover plate I0, fluid tightpacking rings, I2y being inserted about the shaft so that A smallv hole I3.-

the chamber 2s is. oil tight. normally closed mayfbezprovided for ventingthe air from the unit. when initially installed. A

crank I4 isattached to the projecting end` of the` shaft and this,A crank may be, connected to a lever, wheel or other manualcontrol device not shown.` Y

The gear Bis in mesh with the longitudinallymovingcontrol. element or control rack4V I6 which;- moves. andisguided inthe. longitudinal bore I'l extending throughthe housingzin a direction at,

right anglesto.thefaxissonthe gearv 3. The outer orl right. hand. end; of. the bore` I'Il is. closedy by a plate I8 while-the.n opposite'end is open'. to; the;

It is understood that sageZIl mavfbeidrilledffrom-thescylinderfA I-lto the;

gear housingfor freer circulation. of the; oilbev tween ,thacasing and the cylinder.

Referring now; to the driven-oroutput side of'. theunit as housed inthevrcasingf3;vthe;driven v gear is indicated by the numeral 22 and meshesVV with the driven element `or rack 23-I similarly mounted in thefcasingwand likewise VVoil-sealedY Thedriven element or output shaftwhich; is :con-l nected to the gear-22 is vindicatedat 25fandacrank is indicated atv 2.6, as illustrativeof any i mechanical Vconnectionto Vthe mechanism to-be y controlled and operated by the unit.

Located ywithin the cylinder I4 andhaving, a

fairly close sliding t with'. the interior. wall thereof is the'piston, indicated ingeneralfby thev numeral'30. The piston is shown removed from the -unit Yin Figs. l() to-13. It is'capableof move,-

ment th-roughsubstantially the entire* length of'y the bore within-the cylinder being moved in y eitherl direction through a preponderance of fluid pressure exerted'on either'end thereof. At

its left'hand end'itis rigidly connected'to the driven ,element 23 by thescrewthreade'd connection 3 I .shown in Figs. 2 and 3; At the right hand or control end of theunit the piston'hasa: lostmotionv connection with the: control rack I3:

` being recessed for this purposeas indicated at .33. a bearingring 34 beingsecuredtothisend Lof f cylinder I:

i the piston by bolts 35. The inner end of th control rack slides through this ring 34 and is provided with an enlarged head 38 which is somewhat shorter than the recess or chamber 33 so that a limited movement of the rack I6 with respect to the piston is provided. It is during this relative movement that the valve 40 which controls the passage of the pressure uid is operated.

In the normal operation of the unit the head 38 of the control element touchesV neither the ring 34 nor the adjacent end of the piston 30, the control rack being provided with a suflicient independent movement to operate the valve 40, to be described later in detail, without reaching either limit of its possible movement with respect to the piston. As shown in Fig. 2, when the valve is in closed position the head of the con trolr'ack is located at its central position in the chamber 33. When theivalve is opened during the-fluid actuated movementfto the leftL as shown in Fig. 3 the headof the cont-rolrack-approaches the endv of theA piston. On movement to the. right the head; willA approach the inner face of: thering- 34.

Should, however; the fluid pressure fail'thef head will move to-itswful11-extent t'o either sideofthe chamber 331fa-ndestablishy a direct me# chanical connection betweerrtherlaok. on controll element I 6 and thepiston; andl .-this` arrangement secures a full: manualA operationF ofl the uni-t inV an emergency, for inisuchfcaseythefthrust of the-n element IE in eitherv direction-fis: transmitted by* thepiston' tothe drivenfrackx or elementv 23r- Means are provided-.as will.` befdescribed, for sup# plying oil or other: pressure fluid tothe'chamber at either end of the .pistonat such aftimeas'o-that'" there will be no'resistancefofferedbythe'unit to? the complete and easy manual operation through` the unit.

The controlfelement or racks: I 6-is= provided :at its inner: or piston endwith' anaxia'li boreindie catedfby -the Anumeral which :communicates the: inclined passage f 46T with the: interior: of' the f A por-tionf'off. the borel 45 is-Y screwf threaded; and in this vscrew; threaded socket-vis! received the reduced screw threaded-extension-48'VIP formedtas a--partoff theifvalve 40: A'fpiinl dg'riil be inserted throughzther` parti 48r'and their endz of=vv the control'elementfI-. to -prevent'rotatioir5 offthe#y valve. The valve isy provided.n with A a central through passage w50# extending;from`r end' to end"-r` thereof which opens into :thaspace'fSI inthe fari" endg-of.Y the piston where" the. extension` 3| of the'iV element 23 is received.:4 A i transverseit passage@- 52v communicating :with thetpassage 51) is ylocated" nected ,parts'does not/require fany'packingfringsi as the whole unit is-lled with 'oil' and thesli'ghtfif leakagev which. may. occurV around the* pstondoes? not ai ect the I'operationof the fdevic'e. A' centrale passage or'borer 53 'islocatedlin the interior 'off the 5 piston` "in which` the" valve ir4-fhaslia 'fairlyf smigfslidingv fit; Again' packingfring's 'arel'inotf necessary;v between ther'valvean'd the surrounding-2' wall of the piston,l as any leakage around theA valve does :not .affect the-:operation of the unit,

5. Oil or other operating fluid, is admitted to the cylinder I through a passage 55 which is connected to a pressure line from any suitable pump or other source, not shown. The oil pump is constantly in operation so that pressure is always available as long as the pump is operating. Any suitable device for pumping the oil and relief valve for maintaining a given degree of oil pressure may be employed. This pump will draw from any sump to which oil is discharged from the unit so that the oil is kept in circulation as required. Devices for maintaining constant oil pressures in units of the general type are well known and need not be shown or described.

Oil from the inlet port 55 passes to a longitudinal inlet or pressure channel 56 cut in the surface of the piston. This channel is of sufficient length so that it will always be in communication'with the inlet 55 at any position of the piston. A similar channel is located on the opposite side of the piston and spaced transverse inlet or pressure passages 58, which intersect the central longtudinal passage 53, connect the channels. These passages transmit oil from the passage 56 to the passage 51, so that the pressure is always equalized around the piston.

A set screw or stud 6U is located in the cylinder I opposite the inlet 55, the end of the set screw fitting in the channel 5'I and preventing the piston from rotating.

At right angles to the channels 55 and 5l and located midway of the piston is the transverse passage 62 which also intersects the central passage 53 and provides an outlet or exhaust passage for the oil held in either end of the cylinder permitting it to flow to the outlet las the piston is moved in the cylinder. This passage opens at its ends into the two oppositely located outlet channels 64 formed on the outer surface of the piston. These opposed channels serve to balance the piston.

The pressure fluid from either end of the cylinder escapes from the chamber at the end of the piston toward which the piston is moving through longitudinal lling and drain channels 65 cut in the outer surface of the piston. These channels which constitute both the inlet and outlet conduits for the passage of pressure uid to either end of the piston are preferably in two sets of four each located between the channels 56 and 5l and 64. Each set of channels or conduits terminates short of the central plane of the piston and inwardly of the passages 58. At the right hand end of the piston the ring 34 is similarly channeled as shown at 65aL in Fig. 6. At the inner terminus of each channel 65 a radial passage 66 leads to an annular groove 68 cut in the inner wall of the piston. As shown, especially in Fig. 3, there are two of these grooves which are located on opposite sides of the discharge passage 62.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 5 one of the channels 64 is opposite a discharge port l@ formed in an enlargement lI which is cast with the cylinder I and the channel is of suiilcient length so that it is always in communication with the discharge port. The pressure iluid which is discharged ahead of either end of the piston in its movement escapes through a drain pipe attached to the outlet Til and is delivered to the sump. The entire system is either enclosed or a trap, not shown, may be located in the drain to maintain a full supply of fluid in the system.

Referring to Fig. 5 a bypass is provided between inlet 55 and the port lll, the end of the bypass 6. adjacent the outlet port being reduced to form a seat indicated at 'I2 on which a ball 'I4 is seated, this serving as a check valve. Should the pump cease to operate or there be a break in the supply line, this check valve will open to permit the passage of the pressure fluid from the outlet 'I0 to the inlet 55, the purpose being to supply fluid to the chamber from which the piston is receding. This prevents the creation of a vacuum or the tendency to create a vacuum in the chamber which is increasing in volume due to the travel of the piston and reduces materially the effort which is required to move the piston directly by manual operation. v

Referring now to the valve 40 which, as stated, is moved relatively to and within the piston by the manual control element I6; the relative movement of the valve under normal operations with respect to the piston is very limited as is shown by a comparison of Figs. 3 and 3a. preciated that as the piston moves in either direction the valve will move with it, being maintained in the relative position to which it has been moved by following up the travel of the piston by movement of the manual control element I6. As long as the valve is maintained in its shifted position, the piston will continue to move in the same direction. It is therefore necessary to maintain only a slight pressure on the control element to continue the movement of the piston (and consequently the movement of the rack 2'3 and its connected elements). If, however, the force exerted on the control element is relaxed, continued movement of the piston will close the passages through the piston and valve and the movement will stop because the valve and pistonV are then restored to the relative position shown in Fig. 2.

It may be stated that in both Figs. 3 and 3a the extent to which the valve is opened in either direction of movement is exaggerated for the purpose of making the drawings clearer. In actual service of this unit it is necessary only to crack the valve and the piston will start its movement at once. Likewise the cessation of piston movement is practically instantaneous with the relaxing of pressure on the control device` This makes the operation of the unit extremely sensitive and yet there is no tendency for the piston and its connected elements to drift for the parts assume a, complete balance immediately upon the closure of the valve.

The construction of the valve, which, in combination with the other elements make these desirable results obtainable, will now be described. The ends of the valve 4l! close off the bore 53 within the piston. In the longitudinal center of the valve is the annular reduced portion or groove which is opposite the transverse outlet passage 62 and constitutes an outlet or discharge passage. The distance between the extreme edges of this groove may be a few thousandths of an inch less than the distance between the .adjacent walls of the transmission grooves 58, just enough so that the grooves 58 are sealed off by the two ridges 82 at either side of the annular groove 80. On either side of the ridges 82 are the two grooves 8.3 and 64 whichform the annular inlet or pressure grooves and are always in communication with their respective transverse passages 58. Each ridge 82 may be slightly wider by a few thousandths of an inch than the width of the grooves 68. It is practical, and to some extent advantageous, to have a slight leakage through the valve as this makes a more sensitive opera- It will be apriz-,easiest tion; possible; and avoids any' lostv motion in cracking the valve.

Rsum

When the valve is in its central or neutral position with respect to the piston, as shown for example in Fig. 2, the ridges S2v either completely or partially close oil both transmission grooves 68 so that little or no fluid can iiow from theicylinder chamber at either end of the piston. A-t the same time the pressure iluid is also-sealed ol or balanced and. the parts remainin. this position and cannot move until and unless the valve is shifted. If movement of the rack 23 to the left is desiredV the control element, the rack I6, is moved to the left which, due to the pro vision for lost motion between the rack l, and. the piston, shifts the valve tol the position as shown. in Fig. 3. This movement will open the right hand groove 68 so that the iiuid under' pressure will flow through the right hand passages 58 and groove 84 into the groove 58Y and. thence through the right hand channels or conduits 65 to the chamber at the right of lflig.v 3, so that the pressure fluid propels the piston to the left and this movement will continue as long as the operator follows. up the piston, movement with corresponding movement of the rack.

However, the instant that the pressure on they rack is released, the movement of t -e piston will cause the valve to reassume the relative posi.-y Y

tion shown in Fig. 2 and movement will cease. This condition can occur at any point in thetranslation of thepiston.

During the translation of the piston 3@ to the left the oil must be discharged from the chamber at the left` of the piston and this4 is accom.-` plished because the transmission groove 6.8.- to the left is uncovered, opening the passage to the central groove 80 in the valve and thence tok the discharge port 5.2. The channels 65 on the lettv side of the piston, now become outlet conduits, conducting the oil from the chamber tothev left to the groove 68 to the left.

On movement of the parts to the. right, as illustrated in Fig. 3a the left hand groove 68 and its. connected condu-its 65 become inlet conduits while; the corresponding elements on the right become.

the direction of movement, and the manual move- I ment is transmitted directly to the piston andthence to the rack 23. During thisoperation the valve is fully opened so as to provide for the ex-- pulsion of the fluid pressure on one side of the piston and the vacuum on the other side oi the piston is relieved through the operation of the` check valve l2.

As` will be noted each moving. part is.- surrounded by the oil or other pressure fluid which acts to lubricate all of the parts. Also in every oase the pressure has been balanced so thatV the movement of the parts is not impededby any preponderance of pressure at either side thereof.. The piston is balanced in. its cylinder by the op-' posite channels 56 and 51. The valve is subjected to equal pressures on all sides and in addition the oil pressure is balanced on either end cf the valve. All that is required to operate the device is the application of just sufficient here@ to move tfe rack iS andvalve all suiciently to crack the valve. The pressure may be very light.. Indeed? in a device as shown; the weighty ofi a finger will cause the entire unit to become operative.. Conversely the, lifting of the linger Will bring the. Whole device to rest. In the event of failure of fluid pressure theV device itself. offers little or no-resistance to the man.- ual. operation of the driven elements directly through. the device.

It; will be seen that a very simple and efcient unit, of this'type, has been devised. There are few movingv parts and the whole structure is compact and cannot get out of order easily. It has many possible uses where it is desired to employ fluid pressure as the activemoving element under complete and ready control.

The descriptionV and drawings have been detailed to give a full and adequate description 0f the device, but the invention is not to be understood as limited to following of those details and to be capable of modication and improvement without departing from the principles of the in-` vention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A power actuating device having a cylinder,

a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder and a valve slidably mounted in a blind bore in the piston and having an opening communicating. from the inner end of said bore to the face of the pisn ton upon which said bore opens, the wall of the. cylinder having an inlet port and an outlet port for fluid under pressure, said piston having a longitudinal inlet channel and a longitudinal outlet.

channel on its outer surface, the inlet channel being continually in? communication withV the inlet port and the outlet channel being continually in communication with the outlet port at all positionsof the piston, said piston also having independent transmission passages leading to opposite ends of the piston, transverse passage means communicating with the inlet channel and a second transverse passage communicating with the outlet channel, means attached to the valve to shift it relatively tothe piston to place the trans missionY passages in communication with either said transverse passage means, or said second transverse passage, selectively, and a driven member attached to the piston.

2. A power actuating device having a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder and a valve slidably mounted in a blind bore in the piston and having an opening communicating from the inner endl of said bore to the face of the piston'upon which said bore opens, the wall of the cylinder having an inlet port and an outlet i port for fluid under pressure, said piston having spaced longitudinal inlet and outlet channels on its outer surface in communication with the inlet and outlet ports respectively at all positions of the piston, said piston also having two sets of independent transmission passages leading, respectively, to opposite ends of the piston, transverse passagel means communicating with the inlet channels and a second transverse passage communicating with the outlet channels, means attached to the valve to shift it relatively to the piston to place the rtransmission passages in com-v munication with either said transverse passage means, or said second transverse passage, selectively, andV a driven member attached to the piston. v

3. A power actuating device having a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in cylinder a valve slidably mounted in a blind bore in the piston and having an opening communicating from the inner endof said bore to the face of the positions of the piston, said piston also having independent transmission passages leading to opposite ends of the piston, transverse passage means communicating with the inlet channel and a second transverse passage communicating with the outlet channel, means attached to the valve to shift it relatively to the piston to place the transmission passages in communication with either said transverse passage means, or said secondV transverse passage, selectively, a driven member attached t the piston, a bypass between the outlet and the inlet port, a check valve in said bypass opening toward the inlet port and means permitting said piston and valve to be moved in unison.

' JOHN F. MORSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this `patentr- Y Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Powers Mar. 21,1893 Anderson v May 24, 1910 Sprater Dec. 1, 1914 Rice June 15, 1915 Bragg Oct. 26, 1926 Ferris May 10, 192-'1 Davis AJan. 27, 1931 Bragg Nov. 3, 1931 Dieter Mar. 29, 1932 Williams June 21, 1932 Davis Aug. 30, 1932 Oberhoffken Nov. 15, 1932 Jessup Feb. 20, 1934 l Sassen May 15, 1934 Ljungstrom Dec. 13, 1938 Englesson June 10, 1941 Porter May 4, 1943 Burton Jan. 2, r1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Countr5T Date Number France Dec. 22, 1928 

